No 10 climbs down on PM’s claim stocks and shares owners not ‘working people’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer does not think all owners of stocks and shares fall outside his definition of “working people”, Downing Street has signalled. Labour’s manifesto said the party would not increase taxes on working people, including VAT, national insurance, and income tax. “That’s what’s important to focus on, where people are getting their money from, getting their money from going out to work.” The continuing row over ministers’ definition of working people came as the Chancellor signalled she would rewrite the way Government debt is measured in her first Budget. “That will make space for increased investment in the fabric of our economy, and ensure we don’t see the falls in public sector investment that were planned under the last government.” Ms Reeves is expected to target public sector net financial liabilities as her new benchmark for government debt rather than the current measure of underlying public sector net debt.